Thousands spent on ‘H-bars’ to stop inconsiderate drivers parking across driveways

Hampshire residents paid more than £26,000 to the county council last year for – “H-bars” white lines designed to deter motorists from parking across their driveways, new figures reveal.

A Freedom of Information request has shown that Hampshire County Council received 178 applications for access protection markings (APMs) during the 2024/25 financial year.

The markings, commonly known as “H-bars”, are white advisory lines painted across dropped kerbs to help prevent vehicles from blocking access to private driveways.

The council approved and implemented 167 of those applications, including 35 requests to refresh existing markings, across all of the county except Portsmouth and Southampton where residents instead apply to their respective city councils.

The figures show the county council generated £26,110 from APM application fees over the year.

Residents currently pay a non-refundable fee of £150 to apply for a new driveway marking or to have an existing worn marking repainted. Decisions on applications cannot be appealed. If an application is approved, the marking is scheduled alongside other highways works, with the process typically taking between eight and 12 weeks from approval to installation.

Of the 167 approved applications, 35 were for existing markings to be repainted, meaning more than one in five approvals related to maintenance rather than new painting.

Responding to the figures, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways Cllr Steve Forster said applicants are charged £150 because APMs benefit individual properties rather than all road users, with the fee covering both assessment and installation costs.

Cllr Forster said: “Residents can apply for Access Protection Markings to help deter parking across their driveway.

“As driveways are not part of the public highway network and are privately owned, any markings installed would benefit the individual property only rather than all road users, so applicants are asked to pay £150 to cover the costs.

“This cost includes the administrative work needed to assess whether an application meets the criteria, as well as the installation of the markings themselves.

“The approach is consistent with many local authorities across the country and helps ensure that limited highways budgets are protected and focused on maintaining and improving the wider public highway network.

“Details of the application process, including the reasons for the charge, are available online.”

Access Protection Markings are advisory rather than legally enforceable restrictions.

However, councils say they can help reduce instances of inconsiderate parking and improve access for residents who regularly experience vehicles blocking their driveways.

Across Hampshire and its major urban centres, the cost of applying for driveway protection markings is broadly similar.

Southampton City Council sets its non-refundable fee at around £120 plus an additional £10 per metre where extra length is required.

Portsmouth City Council charges about £118.64 for a standard entrance marking, with entrances over 4.6 metres incurring an additional £10 per metre, plus VAT.